Although the band started out playing at Christian music festivals, they shun the label of "Christian rock," with singer and guitarist Jon Foreman saying, "For us, it's a faith, not a genre. We've always been very open and honest about where the songs are coming from. For us, these songs are for everyone. Calling us `Christian rock' tends to be a box that closes some people out and excludes them. And that's not what we're trying to do. Music has always opened my mind -- and that's what we want." They started out on Charlie Peacock's label "re:think" and spent several years appearing at Christian festivals and enjoying Christian radio hits. Most of their early tours were with Christian bands and both of the band's new members were borrowed from Christian bands.
Switchfoot did not see success outside of the Christian rock scene until they were featured alongside singer Mandy Moore on the A Walk To Remember soundtrack. The band's first true commercial success came in 2003 with the release of their fourth major label (and first mainstream label) offering, The Beautiful Letdown. The album went on to sell more than 2 million albums and Switchfoot became the most popular rock band to be associated with Christian music.
They were featured on the British Edition of the Spiderman II soundtrack along with the likes of Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional to name a few, in 2004 with the song 'Meant To Live'.
In 2005 Switchfoot released "Nothing Is Sound". The album went gold within 3 months and received much critical acclaim.
Switchfoot's highly anticipated album, titled "Oh! Gravity." was released on December 26th, 2006.
On November 10th, 2009, Switchfoot released their first album produced under their own label, lowercase people. "Mess of Me", a single from the album released months before the CD, has enjoy chart-topping radio plays since its release.
In 2010 Switchfoot released their album, "Hello Hurricane".
On September 27th, 2011, to much anticipation and excitement, Switchfoot released their newest album, "Vice Verses".
Sites:
www.switchfoot.com
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Oh! Gravity
Switchfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La la la! La la la!
La la la! La la la!
La la la! La la la!
There's a fracture in the color bar
In the backseat of a parked car
By the liquor store where the streetlight
In the same town, there's the same scar
In the same glow of the liquor store
By the freeway where the headlight
Keep her company till the next night
Oh! Gravity
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Sons of my enemies
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
In the back room of the Pentagon
There's a thin man with the line drawn
With a red jaw and a red bite
Watch the headline on the next night
Oh! Gravity
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Sons of my enemies
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Why this tragedy?
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Oh! Gravity
Why can't we seem to put it together?
In the fallout, the fallout
We found out the hype won't get you through
We're connected, connected
I meant it, the hype won't get you through
(Through!)
Oh! Gravity
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Oh! Gravity
Why can't we seem to put it together?
Why this tragedy?
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Oh! Gravity
Why can't we seem to put it together, now?
La la la la la la!
La la la!
La la la la la la la la!
La la la la la!
La la la!
La
Let's put it together
The song "Oh! Gravity" by Switchfoot talks about the issues and problems faced in society. The lyrics are metaphorical and symbolic, and paint a picture of a broken society that can't seem to keep it together no matter how hard it tries. The fracture in the color bar represents the dividing line between races and the discrimination and prejudice that still exist in society. The backseat of a parked car and the liquor store represent the darker and unexplored parts of society that people try to ignore.
The thin man in the back room of the Pentagon represents the government and people in power who draw lines and make decisions that impact the rest of society. The "red jaw and red bite" could symbolize the violence and bloodshed that comes with such decisions. The chorus, "Why can't we seem to keep it together?" is a plea to society to come together and overcome these issues.
The repetition of "La la la" in the song is a nod to the universal language of music that can bring people together and unite them. The song ultimately calls for people to put aside their differences and work together to create a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
La la la! La la la!
Repeating 'La' sound to express excitement or enthusiasm
There's a fracture in the color bar
There's a division or conflict in society
In the backseat of a parked car
The unnoticed or hidden place where conflict happens
By the liquor store where the streetlight
The place where people go to deal with their problems, drown their sorrows, and find comfort
Keep you company till the next night
Provides security or distractions only temporarily
In the same town, there's the same scar
The repeated cycle of pain and destruction
In the same glow of the liquor store
The same place where people go back to the source of their problems
By the freeway where the headlight
The place where people try to escape their problems, but can't seem to
Keep her company till the next night
Provides security or distractions only temporarily
Oh! Gravity
The force that holds us down or keeps us grounded in reality
Why can't we seem to keep it together?
Why can't we overcome our problems and unite?
Sons of my enemies
The next generation that inherited the conflicts of their predecessors
In the back room of the Pentagon
In the innermost circle of power where decisions are made
There's a thin man with the line drawn
There's a person who draws the line between right and wrong or good and evil
With a red jaw and a red bite
With the power to enforce the line with violence or bloodshed
Watch the headline on the next night
Watch the consequence of our actions or decisions
Why this tragedy?
Why do we keep repeating the same mistakes and causing pain and suffering?
Oh! Gravity
The force that shows us the consequences of our actions
Why can't we seem to put it together?
Why can't we learn from our mistakes and work towards unity and peace?
In the fallout, the fallout
In the aftermath of our mistakes and conflicts
We found out the hype won't get you through
We discovered that false hope and empty promises can't solve our problems
We're connected, connected
We are all connected in our struggles and sufferings
I meant it, the hype won't get you through
I'm serious when I say that we need real solutions and actions, not just words
Let's put it together
Let's work together towards a better future, despite our differences
La la la la la la la!
Repeating 'La' sound to express excitement or enthusiasm
La la la la la la!
Repeating 'La' sound to express excitement or enthusiasm
La la la la la!
Repeating 'La' sound to express excitement or enthusiasm
La la la!
Repeating 'La' sound to express excitement or enthusiasm
La la la la la la la la!
Repeating 'La' sound to express excitement or enthusiasm
La la la la la!
Repeating 'La' sound to express excitement or enthusiasm
Lyrics Β© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: JON FOREMAN, TIM FOREMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jonah Anthony
BEST. BAND. EVER.
Bart Stone
Sweet song, beautiful album!
KMOV
A great album!
GcorpCoPrez
Such a great opening song to the album~!!
Miriam
Love it!
Art by Atlas
I remember not liking this song when it came out--I thought it was noisy. Here I am however many years later after it's playing in my head all day lol
Charity Ann
2022, whoβs still here rockinβ out to this classic?! πΈπ€
jonathan giron
2023
Jayden Lawson
2024 (just getting in early)
Hosana Garcia
Melhor banda de todos os tempos!!!!!!!!! Amo demais!!!!!β€οΈβ€οΈ